The Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher is enjoying married life.
Gallagher and Emma Fortin of Ste-Julie tied the knot in Montreal on July 6.
“Well, I’d like to say nothing changes,” Gallagher said with a grin Saturday at Brossard’s CN Sports Complex when I asked him how he’s enjoying married life. “My wife would like me to say it’s amazing … so it’s amazing — and that hasn’t changed.”
The 32-year-old Gallagher is one of the players who has really stood out during the first week of training camp. He has been flying while playing left wing on a line with centre Jake Evans and Joel Armia during scrimmages. The three veterans are also good friends off the ice.
“We spend a lot of time together,” Gallagher said. “I’ve played with them both before and know their strengths. We know how to play together. For the most part, we think very similarly. Army, the way he protects the puck and his skill level, you try to take advantage of it. Jakey’s so responsible and you use his speed throughout the middle. You just try to use your linemates. I think it meshes well with what I’m able to do. It’s early in camp. Lines can change. If we are a line the first game of the season, I think we can be effective.”
At this point in his career, Gallagher is most productive when he plays with regular linemates. When he scored a career-high 33 goals in 2018-19 Gallagher’s regular linemates were Phillip Danault and Tomas Tatar. Gallagher started last season with fellow veterans Sean Monahan and Tanner Pearson and scored five goals in the first 14 games. Gallagher finished the season by playing 13 games on a line with Alex Newhook and Armia and had 5-6-11 totals during that span.
Early in Gallagher’s career, coaches would put him on any line that was struggling and he could provide a spark.
“It’s easier when you’re younger (to switch lines) because you’re kind of only worried about yourself,” Gallagher said. “You’re just kind of, OK, this is how I play, this is what I’m going to do. I think as you get older you know more so you’re trying to think the game as much as you can. Sometimes when you’re thinking a little bit too much — trying to think of where are the guys going to be, trying to think of where to put the puck — it just kind of slows your game down. So having chemistry, it’s always nice.”
While some Canadiens fans might have already given up on Gallagher with three seasons remaining on his contract and an annual salary-cap hit of US$6.5 million, he will never give up on himself and his compete level will always be off the charts — whether it’s training-camp scrimmages, practices or games. While he probably won’t hit the 30-goal mark again — especially since he will be playing on the third or fourth line — 20-25 goals isn’t out of the question if he can stay healthy.
In some ways it seems like yesterday that a 20-year-old Gallagher made his NHL debut and was living with former teammate Josh Gorges and his wife, Maggie. In other ways it seems like a very long time ago — especially with all the injuries Gallagher has had to deal with over the years.
Now it’s Gallagher who is married.
“I never forget that,” Gallagher said about living with Gorges. “I’m so fortunate that Gorgie and Maggie took me in my first two years here. It just allowed me to think only on hockey. There’s so much going on for young kids in this city and I remember that. I try to reach out as much as I can now (to young players) and pay it forward.”
Last season was the first Gallagher didn’t miss any games because of injuries since 2018-19. The only five games he missed last season were the result of a suspension for an illegal check to the head on the New York Islanders’ Adam Pelech. Gallagher finished the season with 16-15-31 totals.
Gallagher went into the summer healthy for the first time in a long time and said that really helped his off-season training as he focused more on cardio than strength. He was also able to spend time with his mother, Della, who was diagnosed with stage-4 brain cancer almost three years ago and at the time was given anywhere between six and 18 months to live.
“She’s doing good,” Gallagher said about his mother. “She’s back home. It was really nice to spend the summer with her and be around her a little bit. That’s something I always appreciate.”
After the wedding, Gallagher was able to enjoy a weeklong honeymoon in the Caribbean with his wife.
“We had some fun together,” he said. “Got to relax. Those weddings — it wasn’t all that stressful for me — but there’s a lot that goes into it and I was happy it went well and now we can kind of go on with the rest of our lives.”